Day 3 of 102
Yesterday, the first full day, at sea, was one of generally re-becoming acquainted with my, by now, familiar surroundings on board QM2. For a second time, Jo and I dined in the Piazza part of the Kings Court buffet, where the food is prepared from scratch and deliciously hot. Quite how the conversation turned to striking workers (particularly train drivers) came about, I fail to understand. But I had to make it quite clear that I was retired and on holiday! At long last, I felt as if my dodgy stomach was freed from the effects of eating something dodgy last week.
Apart from Jo, there are three others (so far) on board whom I remember from previous travels. Ken and Eileen from California are a couple I became acquainted with originally, while riding Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from LA to (near) San Francisco from where we would sail the Pacific on part of MV Queen Victoria’s 2019 World Voyage as far as Sydney. I shall be having the pleasure of meeting that same couple this afternoon in the Commodore Club, forward on Deck 9 looking out to sea.
Again, I am enjoying a late breakfast – the usual oatmeal, banana, and a splodge of plain yoghurt. Outside, I see that Deck 7 is open, and numerous hardy keep-fitters are braving the rain and wet slippery decks. Walking for Christian Aid again this year, I shall join them! Jo encouraged me to attend some kind of Faberge champagne event. I declined!
Overnight, we continued our scheduled journey, southwards, past the northwest tip of Spain. At just after 4am, I woke up as is always the case at home, to find my lovely cabin rattling all over the place. “Are we speeding up?” I asked myself. Indeed, we were bombing along at 22.2 knots through only slightly calmer waters. Gone, however, is the white surface froth of the ocean, and just an occasional nudge reminds one that we are at sea. The temperature remains an uninspiring 13°C, the sky tired white. “With luck,” I tell myself, “the next time I see 13°C will be in November!
My impression last night that the ship felt empty was (today) proved unfounded. My favourite sitting area, the Carinthia Lounge, is almost full. A trivia quiz is about to take place, and these are always well attended. All luggage is now unpacked, and apart from a small suitcase for my rail trip from Sydney to Adelaide and domestic flight to Perth, all is in place until almost the end of April.
Yesterday, I headed for the souvenir shop in search of Centenary World Cruise memorabilia. Ye Gods! Not a thing! Packing at the end of this voyage should be far easier! 11.36hrs, Carinthia Lounge.
It seems Jo is signing us both up for dinner hosted by somebody to do with Faberge, of eye-wateringly expensive egg fame. Is it the same people that were on the QV maiden voyage in 2007? I was shown an egg (very beautiful indeed) which wouldn’t sit well in my collection. Not at several thousand dollars! Whenever the dinner is, I shall have to keep any thoughts of “you’ve got to be yoking” to myself!
Stop Press!
When Jo went to register for the Faberge dinner, the table was fully subscribed with a wait list of over 20. She remains reasonably confident she will get to the dinner, especially if I’m not tagging along. I don’t see my life as deprived if I miss out. I’m allergic to eggs anyway, or have I missed the point?
Outside, the sky is north of England grey, but gone are those spectacular close-up mountainous waves which, yesterday, threatened to put my window through.
I’m too comfortable on my chaise-longue, looking at the ocean, to contemplate doing any walking. However, the effort must start now! 14.54.
It was surprisingly warm outside with fairly strong winds from the south, giving a slight hint of the warmth to come. I lost count of the number of laps that I walked around Deck 7 mainly as it was becoming dark.
Apparently, there is an open version of second sitting dinner in the main Britannia Restaurant, always on the upper level. We tried this out tonight, and it worked remarkably well. The incentive to book a “Grills upgrade” is less now that open sitting in the restaurant runs from 6 until 9pm.
The show, starring two former X Factor artistes was highly enjoyable and very well received. As the performance was drawing to a close, the sound system shut down for an emergency in the Golden Lion to be announced. Passengers would be guided away from the area. I imagine that the nature of this occurrence may become apparent in the fullness of time.
Tomorrow, we arrive at our first port of call, Lisbon, at around 08.00 hrs. Jo has ideas of shopping – I don’t! We shall, however, meet for lunch, hopefully in that nice restaurant I discovered last year.
It’s is now Saturday 14th. Many thanks for reading, David 00.10 hrs on Deck 7, having added 11,000 steps to the so far, modest total, during the day.
David's Cruise 